Natural Teeth Whitening Is Possible with These Healthy Foods

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Are your teeth still dingy gray or yellow despite whitening treatments? It might have something to do with what you’re eating. Adding a few healthy items to your weekly grocery haul not only is good for you, but eating (or drinking) them also can help remove surface stains on your teeth. It’s a win-win.

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Strawberries

Don’t let their sweetness or red hue fool you. Strawberries are a fantastic natural astringent, which helps brighten up your teeth. The malic acid in strawberries acts as a cleaner while you’re eating the fruit. Or, when mashed up and applied directly to your pearly whites, it becomes a yummy exfoliator, helping to reduce stains.

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Apples and Celery

An apple a day can definitely keep both the doctor and the dentist away. Not only is the crunchy fruit a delicious option for keeping your teeth strong, but its high water content also generates extra saliva in your mouth, which naturally washes away debris and discoloration. Celery offers the same benefit. Not a fan of the fruit or veggie solo? Smear some of your favorite nut butters on top.

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Nuts and Seeds

Like strawberries, nuts and seeds, such as cashews, almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds, are also great natural exfoliators. Toss them into your salads, on top of breakfast toast, or grab a handful as an easy snack. They’re also an excellent source of protein and tasty stain removers.

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Oranges

Not only will oranges leave your breath smelling fresh, but the acidity also helps neutralize the bad acids in our mouth that cause tooth decay. Same thing goes for pears, lemons, limes and other citrus fruits.

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Dairy

Don’t fear dairy! Whole and low-fat milk, cheese and yogurt are high in calcium and lactic acid, which are great for fortifying your teeth and gums, and keeping teeth white. Casein, a milk protein in cheese, also can help reduce the loss of tooth enamel.

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Carrots

You may have heard the adage that carrots keep your eyes sharp. It’s true. And they also help strengthen your teeth. Carrots, high in water content, are an excellent snack. In addition to keeping you full and satisfied, they help brush away debris on your teeth.

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Onions

Next time you’re making a salad or a sandwich, shield your eyes and throw some raw onions into the mix. The sulfur keeps plaque from forming on your teeth, and you’re more likely to brush your choppers after eating this veggie because of the inevitable bad breath. Bonus!

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Broccoli

Broccoli not only is high in fiber, which is great for your digestive system, but the coarse texture of the raw variety also helps brush away unwanted plaque and debris on your teeth.

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Water

Last but definitely not least is water. Not only is it great for naturally detoxifying your system and hydrating you from the inside out, but drinking H2O regularly in place of sugary drinks or coffee also can help keep stains away. Not a fan of the plain stuff? Jazz up your water with yummy infusions, including many of the fruits on this list.